One of my favorite quotes...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

By: Marianne Williamson
Quoted by Nelson Mendela in his 1994 inaugural address

CPAC & Campaigning … what my life has consisted of for the past week :)

This past week has been amazing. I was able to attend one of the largest conservative conferences, CPAC (in D.C.) over the weekend. It was a great conference filled with renowned speakers; President Bush, Newt Gingrich, John Bolton, Mike Huckabee, Michelle Malkin… the list goes on. Being in this political atmosphere has only deepened an urgency in me to get involved in this arena. Our nation is in desperate need of godly men and women to rise up and understand the political/socio-economic needs of our country. We are the next generation; if we don’t answer the call then I’m afraid that our country is going to continue to slip into darkness. Ok, I’m done ranting. After coming back from CPAC, my friends and I found out that Obama was coming to the convention center. So, being open minded we decided that we’d go and hear what he had to say. It was 3 to 10,000, haha. Let me tell you, it was an experience. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that out of place in my life, but nonetheless I’m glad I went. By far the best experience came on Monday… Former Gov. Mike Huckabee came to the Holiday Inn in Virginia Beach to rally support. We got there super early to secure an up-close spot. The day before I felt like God wanted me to give him a letter of encouragement. I was kind of hesitant and forgot about writing it until an hour and half before the rally. I couldn't let the felling go. So I scrambled to write it while Kellie held our spot in line. We ended up being right in front of the stage and after his speech I was able to meet him and give him my letter. He truly is a genuine man, that stands for the tough issues that other candidates are wishy washy about. Although he didn’t do that well yesterday in the three states that voted, I’m still holding out for him. Here are some pics of my week in political heaven and also an encouraging video… God Bless.

Christmas Ball!!

The Annual Christmas Ball was last Saturday... It's always fun times dancing the night away!!!

Powerful Stuff

I came across this article today & it just spoke to my heart. I really feel like this is a time where God is waking up His church. Through this awkening He is placing burdens on our hearts for the call and the purpose that He has for our lives -- To cry out and reach our generation for Him! So, if you get a chance read this article. I was blessed and encouraged by it and I know that you will be too.

RELEASE THE CRY – By Loni Mcintosh
Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice of one calling: in the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

It is pretty safe to say that we, as a church, as the Body of Christ, want very much to see God’s glory cover the earth to the extent that “all mankind together will see it.” Losing yourself in that desire is quite possibly one of the most exciting adventures in Christianity. When God shows up on even a very personal and private level it is one of the most exciting and awe-inspiring events in life. We are called to prepare the earth to be covered by the glory of the Lord by making “straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” And that is accomplished by “calling out.” We are called to prepare the way of the Lord. We are in the middle of seeing that desire awakened on the earth, but the cry has only been taken up by a few. God has released a cry. He is calling us to “call out.” Isaiah recognized this in the next verse:

Isaiah 40:6
A voice says, “cry out.” And I said, “what shall I cry?”

God is calling His church to open her mouth and cry out with the cry of the Lord. He is releasing what is on His heart. He is declaring what He wants to see happen on the earth. If we are going to prepare the earth for Him, we must be asking Him “what shall I cry?”

God is revealing His cry to people all over the nation – to people all around the world. But if we do not hear the call to cry out and position ourselves to ask “what shall I cry?” then the world may pass unchanged in our generation. Are you hungering after the heart of the Lord? Do you know what He desires to see change in the next several months? Is your cry aligned with His?

Your cry is not for you alone. This call to cry out is a global call with generational ramifications. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it this way, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” The earth is groaning for a moment in time when the people cry out with the cry of God to release what changes the face of the planet to effectively receive its King. It is not enough to have a good personal walk with God. Your cry was meant to change the landscape.

Isaiah goes on to say in verse 9: “You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”He makes it apparent that this cry is not meant to be private! God is releasing a cry that sparks societal reformation and brings His kingdom to earth. He has made us to be loud, influential, dissatisfied people.

You will not be satisfied with anything in life that falls short of changing the world. Jesus was like that. He still is. And you were made to look like Him. Jesus spent thirty years of His life in preparation, but when He opened His mouth, it became fairly obvious that He was declaring the cry of His Father. His release of that cry changed the world. It changed the course of human history. It changed a nation in a day. What was the key to the authority on His words? What made people listen? “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

Jesus was continually listening to the cry of the Father. He demonstrated to us how life was meant to be lived. Jesus alone saved the world. He is the Head. But He’s coming back for a Body that is in proportion with Him, the Head. He designed us to want to change the world. If my cry is going to change the world, it has to be straight out of the heart of God. Our hearts must be continually listening to the cry of the Father.

“A voice says, “cry out.” And I said, “what shall I cry?””

We have the opportunity to rise up and change the world. Do you know what is on God’s heart? Are you crying out? In the Old Testament, God always did enough on His own to save His people. Every time they cried out He raised up someone who would get them out of the mess they were in. But anytime Israel entered a time of overwhelming prosperity and doing-well-ness it was because someone stood up and declared to the nation and lived in a way that agreed with what was on God’s heart. God will always raise someone up to keep us off of the brink of disaster due to His promises to our fore-fathers. But if we want to see the world change in a way that makes the glory of the Lord visible to “all mankind together,” then we must be willing to stand up and cry out.

God, release the cry!

Clash of the Titans!!

Should America Bring Democracy to the World?

This years debate topic was one that I had been hearing everywhere for the past year… news, class, you name it has been talked about.

This debate brought some of the foremost political leaders of our day to talk about whether or not America should bring democracy to the world. The common ground between these four notable speakers was that they all believed that America should bring democracy to other countries, but the differences came in on how that should be done. Here are their responses and thoughts:

Karl Rove former advisor to President Bush was the first to speak. His immediate response to the question was, "Yes. It's in our national security interest." He talked about the pro’s of democracy and how ultimately it leads to more peaceful and stable government. Charlie Rose then posed the question about the progression of implementing democracy to which Karl Rove responded, “Successful, but the spotlight is on Iraq.” He then made mention of the positive advancement of democracy in countries in Africa and also in Japan and Europe.

General Barry McCaffrey' stance is that democracy is a successful form of government. He specifically stated that he agreed with the hypothesis of democracy, but that we should not forget the disaster it could pose by intervening in other countries with different cultures. He also added later on in the debate that freedom and liberty are of less value than food and other amenities in developing countries.

Gov. Jeb Bush said that we have a role to engage those who are struggling, but that we should not impose democracy on them. He gave these reasons why we should engage:
1. If the United States doesn't do it, who will?
2. Support for democracy isn't done in isolation or against national security interests.
3. It must be done over the long term. It will take a generation of time.
4. We live in an interconnected world that is dramatically different, and more dangerous.
5. Freedom and Liberty is world-wide, for all people.


Max Cleland, former U.S. Senator that we should lead by example, not by force. He then said that, "Leadership by example is hard, the toughest thing on earth." He also referenced Matthew 5:16 by saying that we should “Let your light shine,” not make it shine. He compared that to democracy by saying that we cannot force democracy on anyone.


There were a couple of heated moments about Osama Bin Laden and the war. Overall, the debate was interesting and thought provoking. It makes one think about the issues that our world is facing today. I think democracy can be successful, but a country has to be some what developed to be able to sustain it. Economics play a huge part. If people of a particular country are not having their basic needs met then most likely democracy is not going to work. Survival is going to be more important to them. Other important factors to have a healthy democratic nation are having legitimacy, sovereignty, and authority. Without respect for the government, the country and its leaders it is going to be hard to move forward into democracy.

“Democracy is not easy. It is a complex, finely balanced system that depends on a political culture that grows best under a market economy with a large, educated middle class and a tradition of pluralism. Centuries of religious and philosophical evolution prepare democratic attitudes. Iraq lacked all these. Eventually Iraq or any other country can turn democratic, but it may take some time” (Cord, Jones, Medeiros, & Roskin, 2006).

CD Recommendations...

This CD is simply amazing. Their music is so anointed. If I'm ever having a bad day all I have to do is listen to anything by Hillsong. I would recommend getting any of their CDs... you won't be disappointed. My two favorite songs are "Savior King" & "Hosanna."
Hosanna Lyrics:

"Heal my heart and make it clean, Open up my eyes to the things unseen, Show me how to love like you have loved me, Break my heart for what breaks yours, Everything I am for your kingdom's cause, As I walk from earth into eternity"

Phil Wickham's new cd, "Cannons" came out about a week ago. I

haven't bought it yet, but I have heard a few of his new songs &

they're awesome. I have his first cd & really like it. His lyrics are

raw, moving, and encouraging, they come from a heart that passionately loves God. So check him out.

This week has been kind of crazy. As Regent students know it's the last week of this session. HALLELUJAH! This session has been my busiest thus far, but it's almost over. I only have 3 huge papers, 3 blackboard posts, 4 reply posts, & a final due by Monday. That's not too much is it? :) Needless to say, Pray for me!

Dreams

n. A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration

Alicia's definition: Dreams are desires and goals that give us something to strive for, they shape us and keep us going, they add enjoyment to this life...


It's funny because a few years ago I had a notion of what I wanted to do with my life career wise. It consisted of me graduating with a degree in Government & then going on to law school. From there working in government & eventually becoming a judge. I still have those dreams, but over the past year God has completely expanded my notions.

As the days go by my dreams are morphing into His... It's amazing. Just lately it's like God's slowly unveiling His plan for my life. His plan consists of things that I never had a desire or passion to do, but now they have become my hearts very desire. He has changed the desires of my heart to match what He wants for me, what He knows I need. He’s awakened desires that have been dormant. He’s molding my heart more and more into who He wants me to be, and He lines up my desires for myself with His desires for me.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”

Having a vision or dream for our lives is important. Dreams can easily be lost through failures, lies of the enemy, relationships… but all hope is not lost. God gives us our dreams, if we seek Him He’ll revive the dreams that were lost or stolen from us. We can then have the freedom to walk out our calling and see those dreams come to past.